true autograph; genuine handwriting
Refers to a work written in the artist's or author's own hand, as opposed to a copy or reproduction. Used especially for calligraphy, paintings, and historical documents.
This hanging scroll is said to be a true autograph of that famous calligrapher.
At the museum, I saw a scroll believed to be Murasaki Shikibu's genuine handwriting.
Standard kanji spelling for a genuine handwritten work.
Variant using 蹟 (footprint/trace), seen in older or formal contexts.
Rare variant using 迹 (trace/mark).
Compound of 真 (true/genuine) and 跡/蹟/迹 (trace/mark), literally 'true trace'. The spelling 真跡 is most common today.